The World Health Organization chief warned Friday that as vaccines to fight COVID-19 come on stream, countries and drug makers should not make bilateral deals on medicines.

Axar.az reports citing foreign media these result in richer countries being better able to fight the virus while poorer ones are left behind.

"The COVAX facility – set up by GAVI, CEPI, and WHO in April last year – has now secured contracts of 2 billion doses of safe and effective COVID-19 vaccines," said WHO Director-General Tedros Ghebreyesus at a bi-weekly press webinar.

"I urge countries that have contracted more vaccines than they will need, and are controlling the global supply, to also donate and release them to COVAX immediately, which is ready today to rollout quickly.

"And I urge countries and manufacturers to stop making bilateral deals at the expense of COVAX."